Tracing Your Servant Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians

Tracing Your Ancestors

by Michelle Higgs

While there are popular and academic books on servants and domestic service, as well as television dramas and documentaries, little attention has been paid to the sources family historians can use to explore the lives and careers of their servant ancestors. Michelle Higgss accessible and authoritative handbook has been written to serve just this purpose.Covering the period from the eighteenth century through to the Second World War, her survey gives a fascinating insight into the conditions of domestic service and the experience of those who worked within it. She quotes examples from the sources to show exactly how they can be used to trace individuals. Chapters cover the historical background of domestic service; the employers; the social hierarchy within the servant class; and the recruitment and responsibilities of servants.A comprehensive account of the available sources the census, wills, directories, household accounts, tax and union records, diaries and online sources - provides readers with all the information they need to do their own research. This short, vivid overview will be invaluable to anyone keen to gain a practical understanding of the realities of servants lives.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, ebook

First published August 19, 2012

Reviews

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in the Goodreads Giveaway. Covering the period from the eighteenth century through to the Second World War, her survey gives a fascinating insight into the conditions of domestic service and the experience of those who worked within it. This vivid overview will be invaluable to anyone keen to gain a practical understand of the realities of servants' lives.

[Stevie Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent guide both to the lives of servants in previous generations and to genealogical research. I'd definitely be interested in reading other books in the series.